Peperomia plant ‘EC-PEPE2112’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Peperomia plant named ‘EC-PEPE-2112’ is disclosed, characterized by round, light green leaves with a puckered surface, and deep-lying veins. Plants have compact, rosette-like habits. The new variety is a Peperomia, typically used as an ornamental plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Peperomia caperata.

Variety denomination: ‘EC-PEPE-2112’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program to producedistinct and better performing Peperomia varieties. The new variety wasselected as a seedling resulting from the crossing of Peperomia caperata‘A’, and ‘B’, two unpatented varieties from the inventor's breedingline. The crossing was made by the inventor, Obed J. Smit, a citizen ofthe Netherlands in March 2018. ‘EC-PEPE-2112’ was selected by theinventor in the Fall of 2018 at a commercial greenhouse in Sappemeer,the Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘EC-PEPE-2112’ by terminalcuttings was first performed in Sappemeer, the Netherlands at acommercial greenhouse in September 2019, and has shown that the uniquefeatures of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type throughsuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘EC-PEPE-2112’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘EC-PEPE-2112’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘EC-PEPE-2112’ as a new and distinctPeperomia cultivar:

-   -   1. Puckered leaf surface.    -   2. Deep-lying veins.    -   3. Small, round, light green leaves.    -   4. Compact, rosette-like habit.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘EC-PEPE-2112’ are similar to plants of thefemale parent, Peperomia caperata ‘A’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘EC-PEPE-2112’differ from in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of the new variety are smaller than leaves of the seed        parent.    -   2. Leaves of the new variety are light green on the upper side,        while leaves of the seed parent are green on the upper side.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘EC-PEPE-2112’ are similar to plants of themale parent, Peperomia caperata ‘B’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘EC-PEPE-2112’differ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of the new variety are light green on the upper side,        while leaves of the seed parent are dark green on the upper        side.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘EC-PEPE-2112’ are similar to plants of thecommercial variety Peperomia ‘Burbella’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 32,564.However, plants of the new cultivar differ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Leaf upper side of the new variety is light green., while the        leaf upper side of this comparator is grey.    -   2. Leaves of the new variety are smaller than leaves of this        comparator.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘EC-PEPE-2112’ are similar to plants of thecommercial variety Peperomia ‘Schumi Red’, unpatented. However, plantsof the new cultivar differ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of the new variety are round, while leaves of this        comparator are oblong with a pointed tip.    -   2. Leaf upper side of the new variety is light green, while leaf        of this comparator is evenly red.    -   3. Leaves of the new variety are more puckered with deeper-lying        veins than leaves of this comparator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical blooming plant of ‘EC-PEPE-2112’ grown in a greenhouse. Theplant is approximately 35 weeks of age.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of the foliage.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close up of inflorescences.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2015 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘EC-PEPE-2112’ plants at 35 weeks of age,grown in a greenhouse in Sappemeer, the Netherlands during October. Thegrowing temperature ranged from 18° C. to 20° C. at night to 20° C. to22° C. during the day. Measurements and numerical values representaverages of typical flowering types.

-   Botanical classification: Peperomia caperata ‘EC-PEPE-2112’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: About 21 days at approximately 21° C. in    summer.-   Time to produce rooted cutting: About 28 days at 21° C. in summer.-   Description of roots: Fibrous, fine, moderately dense, freely    branching. White in color, not accurately measured with R.H.S.    chart.

PLANT

-   Plant type: Perennial potted plant.-   Plant shape: Flattened globular with inflorescences carried slightly    above foliar plane.-   Growth habit: Rosettes of leaves, eventually forming very short,    thick stems.-   Plant spread: Approximately 20.6 cm.-   Height: 10.3 cm to top of foliar plane; 13 cm to top of floral    plane.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Plant vigor: Moderate.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 8 months.-   Branching habit: Leaves in rosettes, eventually forming very short,    thick stems, branching into lateral rosettes of leaves.-   Pinching: Pinching not required.-   Number of primary (main) branches per plant: Average 6.-   Number of secondary (lateral) branches per plant: Average 2.-   Main branches:    -   -   Length.—Average: 1 cm.        -   Diameter.—Average: 0.5 cm.-   Internode length: Average: Less than 0.1 cm.-   Appearance and shape: Succulent, thick and rounded.-   Luster: Matte.-   Aspect/angle from vertical: Average angle: 20°.-   Strength: Moderately strong.-   Color:    -   -   Developing.—RHS Yellow-Green 146D.        -   Mature.—RHS Yellow-Green 146D.        -   At internodes.—RHS Yellow-Green 146D.-   Pubescence: None.-   Plant fragrance: None.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single.        -   Quantity.—Average 8.        -   Average length.—4.4 cm.        -   Average width.—4.3 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Near orbicular, perfoliate.        -   Apex.—Obtuse to rounded.        -   Base.—Truncate to obtuse, lobes connected and forming a            perfoliate leaf.        -   Margin.—Entire, slightly revolute.        -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous, smooth, moderately            leathery, strongly bullate.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous, smooth, moderately            leathery.        -   Pubescence.—None.        -   Luster, upper side.—Glossy.        -   Luster, under side.—Matte, velvety.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 144A, area            surrounding veins slightly tinged Greyed-Orange 174A. Young            foliage under side: RHS Yellow-Green 147D, veined 148B and            148C. Mature foliage upper side: RHS Green 137A, area            surrounding veins Green 139A to Yellow-Green 147A, but            darker. Mature foliage under side: RHS Greyed-Green 193A.        -   Venation.—Pattern: Parallel, strongly furrowed. Venation            color upper side: RHS Green 139A to Yellow-Green 147A, but            darker. Venation color under side: RHS Yellow-Green 148B.        -   Petiole.—Average Length: 7.3 cm. Diameter: 0.3 cm. Texture:            Glabrous, smooth. Luster: Both sides very slightly glossy.            Strength: Low. Color, upper side: RHS Yellow-Green N148C,            moderately finely-striped Greyed-Red 182A, slightly more            densely toward distal end. Color, under side: RHS            Yellow-Green N148C, moderately finely-striped Greyed-Red            182A, slightly more densely toward distal end.

FLOWER

-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Arrangement.—Axillary spike.        -   Inflorescence type and form.—Spike.        -   Inflorescence height.—Average: 6.5 cm (excluding peduncle).        -   Inflorescence diameter.—Average: 0.3 cm.        -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—Average 1,700            individual flowers per spike.        -   Quantity of flowers per plant.—Average 5,000.        -   Quantity of flower buds per plant.—Average 25,000.        -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—Average 30,000.        -   Natural flowering season.—Fall into late spring.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Flower bud length.—0.2 mm.        -   Flower bud diameter.—0.2 mm.        -   Flower bud shape.—Flattened, circular.        -   Flower bud texture.—Glabrous, smooth, slightly velvety.        -   Flower bud luster.—Slightly glossy.        -   Flower bud color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 147C, tinged near            Greyed-Purple 185C.-   Flower:    -   -   Flower type and form.—Individual flowers are very small and            consist of 1 bract, 2 stamens and a single pistil.        -   Flower aspect.—Outward.        -   Flowering habit.—Very freely.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Flower shape.—Rotate, consisting of 1 bract, 2 stamens and 1            pistil only; no petals and sepals present.        -   Flower height.—Average: 1 mm.        -   Flower diameter.—Average: 0.6 mm.        -   Flower length.—Average: 0.5 mm.        -   Flower longevity on plant.—Average one month.        -   Persistent of self-cleaning?.—Self-cleaning.-   Peduncles:    -   -   Terminal peduncle length.—Average 6 cm.        -   Terminal peduncle diameter.—Average 2 mm.        -   Peduncle angle to lateral branch axis.—Average angle 30°.        -   Peduncle strength.—Weak.        -   Peduncle texture.—Glabrous, smooth.        -   Peduncle luster.—Moderately glossy.        -   Peduncle color.—RHS Yellow-green 148D, slightly            finely-striped Greyed-Purple 185D.-   Floral bracts:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—One below each individual flower.        -   Shape.—Orbicular.        -   Length.—0.4 mm.        -   Width.—0.4 mm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 148c and 148D, slightly tinged            near Greyed-Purple 185C.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—Average 2.        -   Filament length.—Average 0.2 mm.        -   Filament color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 146D.-   Anther:    -   -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Length.—Average 0.2 mm.        -   Width.—Average 0.15 mm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Green 194D or lighter.        -   Pollen.—Low.        -   Pollen color.—RHS White 155A.        -   Pistil.—Number: Average 1. Length: Average 0.5 mm.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Flattened, hairy, circular. Length: Average            0.1 mm. Diameter: Average 0.2 mm. Color: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 148D. Style: Sessile. Ovary color: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 146D.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: None observed to date.-   Disease/pest resistance: No increased nor decreased resistance nor    susceptibility to normal diseases and pests of Peperomia has been    observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerates temperatures up to 40° C. Hardy to    USDA zones 10 to 12. Moderate tolerance to rain. High tolerance to    wind.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Peperomia plantnamed ‘EC-PEPE-2112’ as herein illustrated and described.